#Merrie Monarch

The kāne of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, under the direction of Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV won the overall title at the 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo Hawaiʻi. In an interview at the end of the broadcast, Kaʻupu, who was at a loss of words, said he was in “shock,” but also “grateful and humbled.”

Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 29 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 63rd event.

The festival’s capstone is three days of competition, featuring 19 hālau (hula groups) performing kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula to the world, and 13 women competing for Miss Aloha Hula.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo next week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawai‘i Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death, which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place from April 5 – 11.

As the Merrie Monarch Festival approaches, ALTRES, Hawaiʻi’s largest staffing, payroll and HR company, is ready to assist vendors participating in the various events taking place between April 5 to 11. With over 55 years of experience, ALTRES specializes in providing top-tier staffing services for businesses.

Esteemed kumu hula Nālani Kanakaʻole, whose life’s work transformed Native Hawaiian cultural traditions globally, was honored in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, underscoring her far-reaching influence in hula and Hawaiian values.

Several Hawaiʻi-born actors are hitting the big screen in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” when it opens in theaters this Friday, May 23. Among them is Kaipo Dudoit of Oʻahu who plays the role of David Kawena.

April is a month that carries deep layers of meaning on the Island of Hawaiʻi.

The wāhine of Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo won the overall title at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo Hawaiʻi.

Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 27 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 62nd event.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival next week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD), which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place in Hilo from April 20 to 26.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds travelers to give themselves extra time at airports statewide during Easter weekend and the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which starts Easter Sunday, April 20, and culminates on Saturday, April 26.

Wildfire recovery, the cancellation of the Maui Fair, housing solutions, and election highlights are among the stories that made our list of top features this year. Here’s a recap of some of Maui’s biggest stories in 2024.

US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) spent the day in Hilo, where she met with Lahainaluna students participating in the 61stAnnual Merrie Monarch Festival, toured small businesses participating in this year’s 8th Hawaiʻi on the Hill, and viewed the Puainako Paving Project at Waiākea Intermediate School.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival this week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death, which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival begins in Hilo on March 31 and ends April 6.

Natalie Ai Kamauu is a Grammy-nominated artist, four-time “Female Vocalist of the Year” Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awardee, and was named “Miss Aloha Hula” at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a burglary that occurred at the Merrie Monarch Festival office on Pi‘ilani Street in Hilo sometime between Sunday morning, June 18, and Monday morning, June 19, 2023. Police say unknown suspect(s) entered the establishment and removed numerous items valued at more than $2,700. One of the items removed was a distinct frame/board that contained 12 Merrie Monarch Royal Court Medals.

Maui has four hālau competing in the 2023 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, as the event concludes this evening at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Friday night the competition featured kahiko or ancient hula. Tonight, groups will perform ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 60th event.

Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown was named Miss Aloha Hula 2023 at the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. This is the third year in a row that the hālau from Pūʻahuʻula, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu took top honors in the soloist competition. Maui’s own Karlee Pōhaikealoha Rita Chong-Kee of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, brought home the 4th place award.

The Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center announces a lineup of weekend events including Kamaʻāina Nights on Friday, April 21, and a hula themed Keiki Club on Saturday, April 22 in honor of Merrie Monarch.